It's simple... if you want the badge and all that comes with it, get an M car.

Otherwise, buy a 2005 STI.

The most frustrating part of all these answers is that it really comes down to money... it never comes down to performance. Although, everyone thinks it does... "Well, buy a 335i, it can be tuned... and a lot faster..." - sure - but, go buy a used 2.0-2.5L Japanese car, drop $3-5k and enjoy your car that will keep up with just about anything mass produced. Drop even a few more thousand and you'll have something ridiculous. Save your money. If you want fast, and luxurious - buy an expensive sports/luxury car.

Just let it be known that I drive a 2004 E46... and probably, as far as stock goes - the absolute slowest - being that I have every option available (adds a lot of weight). Due to that, I felt like it was necessary to get it slightly turned by Dinan - YET - still naturally aspirated.

So the simple truth of the matter is... you don't buy an M3 because you want the fastest car... the nicest car... the most luxurious car.

If you want cheap and fast, BMW is not the way to go. 335, 135, 328 etc etc etc are great cars, but not M cars. Regardless of their specs, regardless of their price, or performance - they are not, and will never be an M car.

It's in my opinion that a 600bhp+ and some ridiculous amount of torque STI will smoke the pants off a Ferrari 355, or Ferrar 360, hell - I don't know, maybe beat an F430 (I don't know)... so then the real question is: Why is that the richest people... don't buy STI's and tune them... make them faster than thier $400,000 exotics in their multiple garages scattered around the world?

The VAST MAJORITY of these people (it's important that i capitalize that because some will say "well.... some people do...") don't buy 335i's and tune them and I wonder why. Hmmmmmmm... It's a club, just like driving a Ferrari, or a Lambo - but significantly less prestigious. So, it just depends what club you want to be socially judged and associated with (I don't mean that derogatory).

The E46 M3 is my bias... and I understand that. I wouldn't mind pulling up in a Ferrari 348 GTS next to some Mitsubishi Evo IIISR blah blah whatever the hell letters and numbers come after it... and get completely smoked. Good. At the end of the day it's the EVO driver that will remember the Ferrari ... not vise versa.

So, cheers to all the 335, EVO, STI etc owners - they are all cool cars and will probably beat me in every race that I never enter - let a lone many other M cars on the road.

M3 hands down.. Its the package of the drive.. the feel is top notch when the DSC is off completely and you push thru those tight corners and you will not regret why you chose M over 335.. Stock vs stock I meant.. Mods is very subjective..

Straight line power, get the 335i? That's funny considering it puts down less total torque on the road than the E46 M3, in all 6 gears. Plus there's not another car on the planet as moddable as a E46 M3. It's the clear choice, and there's still many around with under 10K miles (and many of those are several MYs old). That's cool!

I was saying chipped. All i had was the 379$ JB3 and that gives you about another 100rwhp. Not to mention you can do and intake and dp's for about another 900$ and put down almost 400rwhp and tq. Do get that out of an m3 e46 youll have to spend about 10k

I was saying chipped. All i had was the 379$ JB3 and that gives you about another 100rwhp. Not to mention you can do and intake and dp's for about another 900$ and put down almost 400rwhp and tq. Do get that out of an m3 e46 youll have to spend about 10k

No need to mod the motor when a final gear change for $3000 will turn it from wild to super wild. A shorter gearing change is far more beneficial than doing things to change power curves, which adversely affects drivability and reliability. The shorter gearing affects every rpm in every gear equally.

Adding more "peak" power to 335i just imbalances the overall package even further. There's such a drastic fall off in power toward redline that you erase much of the benefit of what you gained at peak. Quoting rwhp numbers isn't any way to compare the actual acceleration capability of two cars. Gearing is a torque multiplier, so what's measured at the crank means little in multi-car comparisons.

No need to mod the motor when a final gear change for $3000 will turn it from wild to super wild. A shorter gearing change is far more beneficial than doing things to change power curves, which adversely affects drivability and reliability. The shorter gearing affects every rpm in every gear equally.

Adding more "peak" power to 335i just imbalances the overall package even further. There's such a drastic fall off in power toward redline that you erase much of the benefit of what you gained at peak. Quoting rwhp numbers isn't any way to compare the actual acceleration capability of two cars. Gearing is a torque multiplier, so what's measured at the crank means little in multi-car comparisons.

Im not dogging the e46 at all. Its an awesome car. I just think you can get more power out of a 335i for a smaller amount of money. Its just all about your goals.

But chipping a 335i gives you 100rwhp and tq all throughout the rpm range not just peak soo.....

I had this question for awhile. I have a 04 M3 and I wanted to sell it for 2 years now. I did try to compare the 335 to my M. For 2 years I still have my M because I can't find the styling as nice as the M on 335. I have seen a modded 335 and just didn't feel the same as my modded M. This is me but other might feel the different way. Get the M, I haven't had a problem yet.

M3 all the way. Buy a 335i and you will spend all of the time you own it wishing you had an M3. Buy the M3 and you will spend all of the time you own it prodding fun at the 335i owners on the "Vs" board. Say no more.

as you are from the USA (mostly straight roads), the 335 would be better for you. I have an M5 and a M3 e46, i love the handling of the e46 but do miss the torque and in gear pull a torqy engine like the 335 & M5 would give you. With all those straight roads a 335 would be lovely, although i would miss the LSD......

But still a 335 in the US and a e46 M3 if living in the UK, does that help

The difference between a new vehicle and a used vehicle is like night and day. Purchasing a vehicle such as an m3, out of warrenty, is something of a gamble. An m3, although bmw quality, is a performance automobile therefore suceptible to failure far more so than a say Honda Civic. On the other hand, if you can afford a 335 that car is sick. Sure it isnt an m3, but it is a tt 6cylinder BMW with hecka curb appeal. And the pleasure of a car purchased from a dealer, new car smell and all, is lible to give you a chubby! 335 hands down

I have a 04 M3 with 35000km on it. I haven't had a problem with it. This car will cost lesser then the new 335.